Section 18250.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all counties be authorized to provide children with service alternatives to group home care through the development of expanded family based services programs. These programs shall include individualized or "wraparound" services, where services are wrapped around a child living with his or her birth parent, relative, nonrelative extended family member as defined in Section 362.7, adoptive parent, licensed or certified foster parent, or guardian. The wraparound services developed under this section shall build on the strengths of each eligible child and family and be tailored to address their unique and changing needs.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the county wraparound services program include the following elements:

(1) Enabling the county to access all possible sources of federal funds for the purpose of developing family based service alternatives.

(2) Encouraging collaboration among persons and entities including, but not limited to, parents, county welfare departments, county mental health departments, county probation departments, county health departments, special education local planning agencies, school districts, and private service providers for the purpose of planning and providing individualized services for children and their birth or substitute families.

(3) Ensuring local community participation in the development and implementation of wraparound services by county placing agencies and service providers.

(4) Preserving and using the service resources and expertise of nonprofit providers to develop family based and community-based service alternatives.

(c) Beginning in the 2011–12 fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 35, Sec. 144. Effective June 27, 2012.)